Means actuated by alternating electric current eor controlling or



l. H. REID.

MEANS ACTUATED BY ALTERNATING'ELECTRIC CURRENT FORCONTROLLING 0ROPERATING i ELECTRIC FURNACES 0R OTHER MECHANISMS.

1,327,738. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9, 1914. Jan. 13,

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

fm Jiu L @51, J .44M )f1 T73/ r mamma MEANS ACTUATED BY l. H. REID.

ALTERNATING ELECTRIC CURRENT FOR CONTROLLING 0R OPERATING ELECTRICFURNACES 0R OTHER MECHANISMS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9, T914.

Patented J an. 13,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNEY UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

JAMES HENRY REID, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO INTERNATIONAL NITROGEN CO., A CORPORATION OE DELAWARE.

MEANS ACTUATED BY ALTERNTING ELECTRIC CURRENT FOR CONTROLLING OROPERATING ELECTRIC FURNACES OR OTHER MECHANISMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

Application filed December 19, 1914. Serial No. 878,071.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES HENRY REID, a citizen of the United States,residing at 352 l\Iulberry avenue, in the city of Newark, county ofEssex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprove'- ments in Means Actuated by Alternating Electric Current forControlling or Operating Electric Furnaces or other Mechanisms, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus actuated by electricity, andcontrolled by devices actuated by repulsion, induced by the action ofalternating current on a core acting against a non-magnetic armature,such as aluminium, copper, etc., for the production of distillation orsublimation by direct, fractional, destructive, or other means, ofhydrocarbons and production of products from residues. It has for one ofits objects the provision of an apparatus for securingv products offractional or destructive distillation of hydrocarbon, such asbituminous coal, coal tar, or other substance capable of yielding carbonby the action of heat and the making of products with what would be thenonvolatile carbonaceous residues during the process of operation, suchas calcium carbid, which may be obtained by mixing calcium oxycompounds,such as calcium oxid or substances capable of forming the same such ascalcium carbonate, with bituminous coal and subjecting the mixture tothe action of electricity as hereinafter set forth. The inventionfurther comprises exposing coal of the bituminous variety to the actionof electricity of sufficient volume and intensity to operate against theresistance of the substance employed and produce a temperaturesulficient to evolve the product desired. It further comprisessubjecting a mass of material to the action of electricity ofprogressively varying character so that varying degrees of temperaturemay be generated within the charge and various products evolved andsecured, such for example as the separate constituents of coal tar viz.,benzol, toluol, xylol, etc., instead of coal tar per se. Or the whole ofthe products ma 1 be driven oftl as a coniposite composition and theconstituents recovered thereafter by fractional distillation.

As an `illustration of the invention and the manner in which it may beemployed the product-ion of tar and other ingredients or substancesevolved by the destructive and other distillation of bituminous coaltogether with the production of carbid, such as calcium carbid, will betaken, reference being directed to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal vertical section of a furnace partly inelevation illustrating the electrodes, control device, and condenser,and,

F ig. 2 shows a diagrammatic view illustrating the control mechanism andelectrical connections therefor, and illustrating the method ofoperation.

Similar numerals of reference represent corresponding parts in thevarious views.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 indicates an electric furnace inwhich substances are treated or converted by heat or electrical action,comprising the receptacle 2 provided with the lining 3 and supported bythe supports 4 by means of the bearing extensions 5.

The receptacle 2 is provided with a top or cover 9 through which passthe electrodes 10 and 11, which are held or supported by the supports ordevices 12 and 13 by means of the insulation guides 43 and 44. The saidelectrodes pass through the cover 9 and are provided with the insulationsleeves 16 and 17. From the cover extends the outlet 18 provided withthe fluid seal 19 and the revolving or movable damper or valve control20.

The upper section of the cover 9 is also provided with a sealed feedinlet 21, the removable seal of which may be removed and replaced forsupplying ingredients to the apparatus and closing the apparatus duringthe operation thereof.

The lower section 2 and the upper section 9 are secured together by theclamps 22 and 23 actuated by the thumb screws 14. The lower section 2 ofthe converter is provided with a means 24 for making an electricalconnection to the converter of a character opposite to that of theelectrodes 10 and 11, and which means includes a securing and releasingmember for the electrical conductor. The outlet 18 with its seal 19communicates with a removable Conduit 25 Operating through the swingingjoint 26. This conduit communicates with an outlet 27 leading to thereservoir 28 and through which the condensed volatile or volatilizedproducts pass to the same, the reservoir 28 being provided with anoutlet 29 for the permanent gases whereby said gases are conveyed to areservoir (not shown).

The reservoir 28 for the distillate is provided with 'the outlet 3lcontrolled bythe valve 33 at the lower part thereof7 and the outlet 30controlled by the valve 32 at a higher point for the removal of lighterproducts when the reservoir contains water.

The reservoir 28 is also provided with the legs or supports 34.

The receptacle 2 with its lining 3 is provided with the outlet ortap-hole? and the plug or closure 8 therefor, and the carbon contactbase or hearth 6. The wall of the discharge opening or tap-hole is alsoprovided exteriorly with a spirally wound wire 58 of such character'that its electrical resistance increases rapidly when heatedL and whichis employed to actuate and control the electrodes in order to maintain asubstantially uniform temperature in the furnace and automaticallyadjust the electrodes for current control for this purpose as hereinmorefully set forth.

rl`he cover 9 is also provided with the electrode feed and regulatingmotors or devices 35 and 36 which are in circuit with the reverslngswitch 49 (Fig. 2), the shaft of each motor or electrode regulatingdevice is provided with the spiral thread or worm 37 and 38, whichengage the cog Wheels 39 and 4:0, thereby revolving the screw bearingrods al and L2 which causes the guides 43 and fl-l to travel in anupward or downward direction, according to the direction of therevolution of the rod an d simultaneously carry the electrodes l0 and llin like direction for feed or withdrawal to or from the furnace theguides being supported by the carrying rods 13 and l2 passing throughthe sleeves 4f( and -l-S. The electrodes l() and l1 being attached orsecured to the guides 43 and 4A by the binding screws 45 and 46.

In describing the furnace control mechanisrn operated through theautomatic actuation of the electrodes reference is 1directed moreparticularly to Fig. 2 where parts of the electric furnace are shownconnected with the control device in which the numeral 68 representselectrical conduct-ors leading from a source of supply (not shown) andcontrolled by the switch 6l. The wires 66 and 67 are leads to theelectrodes 10 and 1l and the wire 65 to the pot or receptacle l of thefurnace and its carbon electrode, hearth or base 6 by means of theterminal contact 24.

The electrode control motors 35 and 36 are in circuit with a reversingswitch 4Q provided with t-he repulsion devices 50 and 5l actuated byalternating current acting on non-magnetic armatures such as aluminium,copper, etc., which are in electrical connection with the contacts 52and 5:3 respectively of the balance coils 5L): and 55, said coils havingan armature between them with a contacting arm 56 extending to andadapted to contact with the terminals 52 and 53.

Each of the coils 54 and 55 is in series with the resistance coil 57 or58 respectively and the battery 59 and switch 60 when operating.

The power circuit 6l supplies current for operating the reversing switchand motors for controlling the electrodes.

|These two circuits constitute an electrical balance so that when bothare energized and the resistance coils are maintained at the sametemperature, the magnetic effect ou the armature 62 is ml and the arm 56r nains in the adjusted position shown in the drawing.

The furnace being cold the electrodes 10 and ll are lowered into contactwith the hearth 6 thus establishing an electric current upon theclosing` of the switch in the circuit 68 and simultaneously-f the switch60.

The resistance of the electrodes and hearth to the current raise theirtemperature and consequently the resistance of the coil 58 therebyproducing a greater dow of current in the resistance coil 57 andconsequently disturbing the equilibrium of the armature 62 and causing`the arm 56 to contact with the terminal 52 and a flow of current throughthe repulsion device 50 reversing the switch i9 and changing thedirection of the motors 35 and 36 thereby drawing the electrodes slowlyapart and away from the hearth.

The separating of said electrodes decreases the flow of current andconsequently less heating eect and drop in temperature re sults whichdecreases the resistance of the coil 58 and permits a balance in thecoils 5i and 55 thereby bringing the arm 56 into contact with theterminal 53 at which time the current in the repulsion dev-ice 5l bringsthe reversing switch to its normal position. The above action reversesthe motors and draws the electrodes together thus increasing` thecurrent flow and a consequent rise in temperature. This cycle obtains solong as the furnace is in use.

The terminals 52 and 53 are provided with adjusting screws forregulation of the balance.

As an example of the process the production of calcium carbid frombituminous coal and lime or calcium oXid and the recovery of the tar or'volatile products evolved during the action of electricity on lthecomposition will be taken.

A mixture of -pulveri-zed bituminous coal llO and calcium oxid inproportion of one hundred pounds of bituminous coal to 150 pounds ofcalcium oxid (pulverized) is thoroughly mixed and introduced into thereceptacle 2 through the opening 21, it is advisable to mix with thiscomposition about 5% of powdered coke in order to reduce the initialresistance and provide a means for starting the passage of the electriccurrent through the mass at a comparatively low voltage and also providea means for initially heating the mass through the agency of electricityand also provide a means for rendering the mass more or less porous sothat the volatile products produced by the action of heat may be morereadily evolved and discharged from the mixture. When the mixture hasbeeny in` troduced into the apparatus the supply opening 21 is sealedand a current of elec` tricity passed through the mixture from theelectrodes 10 and 11 through the receptacle 2 by means of saidelectrodes and the contact 24 of the apparatus. As the current passesthrough the mixture of bituminous coal and lime the heat generated bythe resistance of the ingredients causes the evolution and distillationof various volatile products which condense and accumulate in reservoir28 from which they may be recovered and the different ingredientsafterward secured by fractional distillation. Or

the electric current may be so regulated that each individual volatileingredient produced by the destructive distillation of the hydrocarbonin the converter 2 may be individually. and separately secured duringthe process of destructive distillation, the temperature being regulatedby moving the electrodes through the insulating sleeves 16 and 17. Whenall the volatile products have been distilled off the residualnon-volatile carbonaceous matter associated with the lime is heated to ahigh degree through the passage of electricity and thereby convertedinto calcium carbid which is finally removed from the receptacle 2 byremoving the taphole plug 8, whereby the carbid is discharged whilemaintained in a molten condition by the heat induced by the inductioncurrent passing through the induction coil 58. The outlet 1S is providedwith a damper 2O which may be regulated by revolution to suitably checkthe outiiow of the volatile products evolved during the process ofoperation, the conduit 25 may be raised and disconnected from the fluidseal device 19 which seal is preferably maintained by means of a lowfusible metal.

By exposing the solid hydrocarbon, such as bituminous coal to the actionof controlled electric currents, the internal resistance will produceintense heat so that the substance will be transformed throughout in aregular and complete manner and will yield a larger percentage ofproducts of more uniform character than in processes devised heretofore,so that the lighter hydrocarbons are not disrupted or cracked and suchcompounds as ammonia are more largely produced and secured withoutdecomposition.

The nonvolatile carbonaceous residue remaining after the evolution ofthe more volatile and less carbon-containing products produced comprisesvery heavy hydrocarbon which reacts with a metal oxycompound, such ascalcium carbonate or oxid, at elevated temperatures and produces calciumcarbid directly from the coked lime which is bonded with and by theheavy nonvolatile hydrocarbon.

Y Other metal oxycompounds may be employed instead of calcium, such asbarium, or other metal a carbid of which is desired, or any nonmetaloxycompound a carbid of which is desired, such as silica for producingsilicon carbid, or so called carborundum may be produced.

The metal oxycompound may be a metal oxid, such as calcium oxid, orsubstance capable of forming or yielding the same by the action of heat,such as calcium carbonate.

The hydrocarbon employed is of the solid variety under ordinaryatmosphere conditions and preferably of the mineral species, orsubstances derived therefrom, such as bituminous coal, lignite, cannelcoal, asphalt, or other solid mineral of organic origin.

The various volatile products produced by the action of electricitythrough the electrical resistance of the carbon-yielding sub stancesoperated on may be produced and collected as a composite composition andseparated from each other by subsequent fractional distillation or eachmay be secured as it is produced by maintaining the electrical conditionnecessary and capable of producing such independently until each hasbeen evolved and the character of electricity supplied altered to yielda next progressively higher carbon-containing product, whereby theproduct-s may be directly obtained separate from each other.

Silicon carbid may also be made by mixing silica or silicates with themineral hydrocarbon or carbon-yielding substance instead of metal carbidor any mixture of metal and nonmetal carbid may be produced.

The term carbid employed herein is intended to include and does includebroadly any nonvolatile carbid of a metal or nonmetal which may beproduced by the action of a solid hydrocarbon and electricity on acompound of such metal or nonmetal a carbid of which is desired, asherein set forth.

The transformation of ingredients may also be induced and maintained bythe action of electricity or an electric current on lil) an inertelectrical resistor as a source of heat, such as silicon carbid,associated or communicating with the ingredient to be acted upon, aswell as carbon, such as coke, added or produced in the process, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

By inducing internal heat by electrical action, a more perfect andcontrolled transformation of the material acted upon into the productdesired may be accomplished, and the character of the product uniformlymaintained without contamination, and also the yield of any individualproduct desired increased over that secured by any of the means of theprior art, which depends upon the application or employment ofexternally applied heat for bringing about the destructive distillationand fractional separation of similar carbonaceous substances, and theproduction of similar products.

As the conductivity of the mass acted upon increases by reason of theincreasing non-volatile carbon residue, the electrical current iscorrespondingly regulated to maintain a uniform and desired temperature.The conductivity of the initial charge may be augmented by associatingthe carbonaceous substances to facilitate the starting of the operationby inducing internal heat, throughout the mass, whereby thetransformation and evolution of volatile products may be obtained in theinterior in an outward direction, thereby enhancing the porosity of thematerial and discharge of `volatile products without decomposition.

The control actuating device or operating member of the presentinvention is based upon a fact that many metals such as aluminium arerepelled when subjected to the action of alternating electric currentsenergizing a core, and when such non-magnetic metals as aluminium areemployed as armatures they are repelled with a force corresponding tothe character of alternating current actuating the core of the device,and hence it will be seen that the aluminium armatures and 7l will berepelled oppositely in accordance with the energizing of the coils 5l or50 by means of alternating current and the repulsion of the aluminiumarmature on either side actuates the switch 63 whereby the regulation ofthe electrodes in the furnace is automatically maintained by the motors35 and 86.

Any or all substances capable of being repelled or acted upon in amanner like aluminium are intended to be included in the scope of thepresent invention which includes as a member vfor actuating the controlof electric furnaces a means or member actuated by repulsion action onthe armatures induced by coils energized by alternating current, incontradistinction to and from magnetic action director through themediumvof a helix actuated by direct current.

Having now described my 'invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is l. An apparatus for making and securingproducts electrically, which comprises the combination of a receptacle,electrodes therein, means for bringing the electrodes and receptacleinto an electrical circuit, means including an armature of non-magneticnature adapted to be acted upon by an alternating current for repellingthe same, temperature-governed means for regulating the movement of saidarmature, said armature controlling the voperative distance of theelectrodes when in use, and means for reversing the movement of theelectrodes while communicating with the controlling member. a

2. An apparatus for making and securing products electrically, whichcomprises the combination of a closed receptacle, electrodes therein,means for bringing the electrodes andy the receptacle into an electricalcircuit, means including an armature of nonmagnetic nature .adaptedto beacted upon by an alternating current for repelling the same,temperature-governed means for regulating the movement of said armature,said armature controlling the operative distance of the electrodes whenin use, and'means for moving the electrodes communicating with thecontrolling member.

3. An apparatus for making and securing products electrically, whichcomprises the combination of a closed receptacle provided with acondenser, electrodes in said receptacle, means for bringing theelectrodes and the receptacle into an electrical circuit, meansincluding an armature of non-magnetic nature adapted to be acted upon byan alternating current for repelling the same, temperature-governedmeans for regulating the movement of said armature, said armaturecontrolling the operative distance of the electrodes when in use, andmeans for moving the electrodes forward and backward while incommunication with the controlling member.

4L. An apparatus for making and securing products electrically whichcomprises the combination of a closed receptacle provided with acondenser, electrodes in said receptacle, means lfor bringing theelectrodes and the receptacle into an electrical circuit, meansincluding an armature of non-magnetic nature adapted to be acted upon byan alternating current forV repelling the same, temperature-governedlmeans for regulating the movement of said armature, said armaturecontrolling the operative distance of the electrodes when in use, andmeans for reversing the movement of the electrodes while communicatingwith the controlling member.

5. An apparatus for making and Securing products electrically, whichcomprises the combination of a closed receptacle, electrodes therein,means for bringing the electrodes and the receptacle into an electricalcircuit, means including an armature of aluminium adapted to be actedupon by an alternating current for repelling the same,temperature-governed means for regulating the movement of said armature,said armature controlling the 4operative distance of the electrodes whenin use, and means for moving the electrodes communicating with thecontrolling member.

6. An apparatus for making and securing products electrically, whichcomprises the combination of a closed receptacle provided with acondenser, electrodes in said receptacle, means for bringing theelectrodes and the receptacle into an electrica-l circuit,

means including an armature of aluminium adapted to be acted upon by analternating current for repelling the same, temperaturegoverned 'meansfor regulating the movement of said armature, said armature controllingthe operative distance of the electrodes when in use, and means formoving the electrodes forward and backward while in communication withthe controlling member.

7 In an electric furnace, the combination of an electrode movingmechanism with means for controlling such movement including a devicefor actuating the operative mechanism of an electric furnace, whichcomprises the combination of a non-magnetic armature With means forrepelling the same, actuated by energy induced by an a1- ternatingcurrent.

8. In an electric furnace, the combination of an electrode movingmechanism with means for controlling such movement including a devicefor actuating the operative mechanism of an electric furnace, whichcomprises the combination of a non-inagnetic armature with means forrepelling the same, actuated by energy induced by an alterna-tingcurrent, and means communicating with the mechanism to be actuated andthe armature for accomplishing the same.

9. In an electric furnace, the combination of an electrode movingmechanism with means for controlling such movement including a devicefor actuating the operative mechanism of an electric furnace, whichcomprises the combination of an aluminum armature with means forrepelling the same actuated by energy induced by an alternating current.

10. In an electric furnace, the combination of an electrode movingmechanism with means for controlling such movement including al devicefor actuating the operative mechanism of an electric furnace, whichcomprises the combination of an aluminum armature with means forrepelling the same actuated by energy induced by an alternating current,and means communicating with the mechanism to be actuated and thearmature for accomplishing the same.

ll. An electric furnace, comprising a receptacle, electrodes therein,means for supplying an alternating current thereto, and means foraltering the distance between electrodes including a switch actuated byrepulsion to lines of force induced by the alternating current.

12. An electric furnace, comprising a receptacle, electrodes therein,means for supplying an alternating current thereto, and means foraltering the distance` between electrodes including a switch actuated byrepulsion to lines of force induced by the alternating current actingupon an aluminum armature.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES HENRY REID. [n s] Witnesses:

JOI-IN BITTNER, PHILIP ZEFF.

